Saucy, Bernese Mountain Dog

Title: Saucy the Bernese Mountain Dog
12"x12" Digital Interpretation
©2009 Christine Pierce
(please click on image to enlarge)

I created this digital painting for my friend. Her sweet dog, Saucy, died a couple months ago, and I wanted to give her something to remember her by. I was given a close-up, head-shot photo of Saucy, which I then adapted with a somewhat untraditional color palette.

I hope I captured her likeness!

Digital "Major"

"Major-1"
digitally adapted in Corel Painter 11

Recently, I read that one of my favorite artists has gone digital. David Hockney, age 71, has embraced digital technology and has created some phenomenal pieces for his current exhibit at his gallery, Annely Juda Fine Art in London.

“It’s probably only in the past year that the computer’s got quick enough to keep up with the draughtsman,” said Hockney. “It’s a very new medium and it’s turned out to be a fantastic medium.” (To read the rest of the TimesOnline article, please click here.)

I love that this renowned and seasoned artist is continiously experimenting with new media. He has even begun creating art on his i-Phone!

Inspired by Hockney's embrace of digital art, I have spent the last two days learning how to use Corel's Painter 11 program. As my subject, I used a photograph of Major, whose watercolor version you can see here.

The picture of Major, above, is the result of some doodling around with Corel Painter. The picture of Major, below, takes the above picture into Photoshop and adds some plug-in filters.

"Major-2"
further adapted in Photoshop PS4 with Cutout Filter
and Topaz Adjust Filter

I am VERY new to this, but I am already hooked. I won't be hanging up my micron pen and watercolors any time soon, but it is nice to have some new artistic toys to play with!

Dog Sketch of "Major"

Title: "Major" ©2009 Christine Pierce

3x5 watercolor, micron pen and PS4
on 140-lb cold press
(please click on image to enlarge)

The other day, I went for a walk with my dad and his two dogs, Major and Ellie. I had my camera with me and was able to catch a calm pose of Major for this sketch. He is a two-year old rescue dog who is part border collie and part unknown.

It was so much fun watching Major and Ellie romp and play together in the park! If I can ever catch Ellie in a quiet moment, I will draw her, too.

Diana and Friend: Different Strokes Challenge

Title: Diana and Friend
5.5x8" watercolor and micron pen
(please click on image to enlarge)

This week's challenge at Different Strokes from Different Folks features Diana and her adoring dog companion.

As I was painting this, I remembered a useful tip in Stephen Quiller's book, Water Media Painting with Stephen Quiller. He states,

I use Naples yellow, cobalt violet and cerulean blue in many of my watercolor paintings.... I use the paints in many cases for aged architecture, stone walls or marble statues (emphasis added).

I found it really helpful to limit my palette, something I hardly ever do. In addition to those three colors, I added a touch of Quinacridone magenta. I look forward to working with more controlled palettes in the future; well, at least some of the time!

Here is a link to the DSFDF blog where you can see the reference photograph and all the other interpretations of this challenge.

Pug Sketch (Bamboo Stick & Watercolor Wash)

Purple Pug
(watercolor 5"x7"; bamboo stick and Lexington Gray Noodler's
Bulletproof ink; micon 02 pen; Arches 140# cp)

This little pug is another dog I met at the local dog park a few weeks ago. He looked tough and dear at the same time, ready to take on the world!

I drew him the same way I sketched yesterday's tulips. Here is a picture of my bamboo "pen" and Noodler's ink:

Bamboo Stick and Noodler's Ink

Sometimes it feels good to get back to the basics. And what could be more basic than a stick and some ink?!?

Here is the initial sketch of the pug:

Pug Sketch with bamboo stick and Noodler's Ink

Boston Terrier Sketch

Micron 02 pen, watercolor, sketchbook

This Boston Terrier is another frisky little fella I met at the dog park last week. His owner was a young woman who had a youngster in her backpack, a toddler by the hand, this dog on one leash and a wiggly pug on another leash. As they walked along, it was like a merry, mobile 3-ring circus!

Jack Russell Terrier Sketch

Jack Russell Terrier (3x4" watercolor on Arches 90# hot press)

There is something about Jack Russell terriers that is so endearing...